A semi-secret blog to be discovered by accident or shared with my friends.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Transformation

This year Susan took our flower beds in hand and made them beautiful. Shortly after I moved into this house I started building stone-bordered flowerbeds in the back yard, but didn't really do much with them.

They got kind of jungle-ly

Susan transformed them from jungles into delightful tourist attractions for hummingbirds, butterflies and bumblebees. I'd rip out the old stuff and she'd plan and plant the new stuff with a keen eye to what really works well and looks nice.

Of the three beds I saved the most difficult one for last. I had to deal with an enormous amount of elephant grass as well as two tree stumps. It took quite some time, but I finally got that bed cleared and laid out a terminus for the pea-gravel paths that run throughout our garden. Susan suggested a little destination with a rustic bench. I got my shovel, rake, and wheelbarrow and started working.

I staked out the shape of the trail and dug and raked it level and smooth.

Then I laid down a poly tarp as a weed barrier with a discarded area rug over that.

This rug, though only a couple of years old, developed a "smell" and was banished for the house this past spring. I saved it with this sort of project in mind.

Then I started hauling rocks to make the wall and anchor the weed barrier.

Today, the pea gravel was delivered, about a third of a yard of gravel filled the path to a depth of about two inches.

Next, came the bench.

I can't wait to see what Susan has in mind for plantings in this new space.

About Me

I'm fortunate to have married the love of my life. In that, I am a very lucky fellow. Otherwise I live in Washington County in western Maryland in a little house on the shoulder of South Mountain.
Other stuff from me here: http://manniesartimitateslife.blogspot.com/